[conservative in nyc]

This is scary.

And not 100% accurate. It does have to be a PAID effort to stimulate grassroots lobbying. It should not apply to you or me posting on Free Republic, for example, if we're not getting paid by a lobbyist to do it.

That being said, it's not the best idea in the world.

[highlander_UW]

And not 100% accurate. It does have to be a PAID effort to stimulate grassroots lobbying. It should not apply to you or me posting on Free Republic, for example, if we're not getting paid by a lobbyist to do it.

I've seen it asserted that you're incorrect here. The piece that addresses that is here...

The term `paid attempt to influence the general public or segments thereof' does not include an attempt to influence directed at less than 500 members of the general public.

Perhaps it's vague (typical wording to allow abuse), but it seems to identify that "paid" applies to the attempt to influence over 500 people.

[Arizona Carolyn]

That's right it specifically states people communicating to 500 or more people to contact congress about any matter.

[El Gato]

It does have to be a PAID effort to stimulate grassroots lobbying. It should not apply to you or me posting on Free Republic

Because many of us contribute to FR, but not all, the nonpaying lurkers could be considered the General Public, while those who pay and post could be considered the "clients", and thus it would apply to FR.

You know that's how it will be interepreted, if not right away, eventually. Probably right away for FR, maybe no time soon for DU. (Do they even pay, or does some sugar daddy pay the freight for the DUmmies?)